Christian Parenting Developing Christian Values

Parenting

1. Christian Parenting Pre- Cana

2. Objectives: After an hour session, the participants will be able to : Know that parenthood is a call that demands maturity from both husband and wife and to understand the real meaning and responsibility of Christian parenting ; Live according to the ideals of Christian Parenting everyday, Give thanks to God for the gift of parenthood.

3. Meaning of Christian Parenting - creating a community of life and love. Values and fruits of parenthood. The Call to parenthood - educating children to become good Christians and loving person Significant Topics

4. What are the events that you have experienced or noticed in the families today?

5. If you would marry and become a parent, what do you want to happen in your marriage? In your children?

6. Primary Human Desire: We are responsible for choosing whether to become a good husband/wife or not. It is our choice to become accountable and a kind parent or not. To become a fair, kind and responsible parent, can be achieved if we faithfully live our commitment and persevere in prayer.

7. Christian Message: Marriage and love of the couple are ordained for procreation and upbringing of children. The children are the most precious gifts to married couples, family, and the whole community. Procreation is a way of sharing God’s creativity in a responsible generation of offspring . A Christian parent needs openness to life and perceives children as gifts from God, which demands love and care.

8. Parents must realize that their children are God’s children too, and they are also human. They should faithfully teach their children by the law and the will of the Heavenly Father. (cf. CCC 2222 ) Parents need to be trained in responsible parenthood. They should be open to new life and give great care in a Christian way. (cf. PCPII 583 ) In particular, responsible fatherhood and motherhood directly confirm the moment in which a man and a woman, uniting themselves “in one flesh”, can become parents.

9. This is a moment of special value both for their interpersonal relationship and their service to life; they can become parents - father and mother – by communicating life to a new human being . (Letter to Families from Pope John Paul II )

10. The vocation of marriage brings the couple to being responsible parents. “Parents and those who take their place have both the obligation and the right to educate their children. Catholic parents also have the duty and right to choose those means and institutes which, in their local circumstances, can best promote the Catholic Education of their children.” (Canon 793 § 1 ) Christian parenting is responsible fatherhood and motherhood, a task to give dignity to marriage and the family. The father and mother become co- creators with God in creating another life in the world.

11. The married couple needs to understand their double tasks, namely: being a husband and wife to each other (Unity) being a father and a mother to their children as precious gifts of their marriage (Procreative)

12. A. Levels of parenthood: the conception the birth of a child upbringing and education of children guiding towards adolescence/adulthood

13. B. Worth and Values of parenting : A spiritual foundation is more important than physical and economic needs. taking care and respecting life in different stages respecting the wife her role as a mother in the family respecting the husband in his role as a father in the family

14. C. Responsibility of Christian Parent: Responsible procreation (cf. Gen. 1:28 ) Acceptance of each child who will become a member/part of the family, Response to the needs of the children, like: Physical needs – clothing, food, shelter, etc. Emotional needs – love and care Social needs – respecting children’s rights Moral – teach and discipline the children, teaching them to become responsible in the family, school, and in the community Spiritual – teaching children to love and believe in God.

15. Deepening: • The ethical approach should not only be based on the couple's good intentions to establish the couple's love and responsibly respect life . • For this reason, it is prohibited for the Christian couple to use artificial means in family planning that do not respect the dignity of the human person and the natural moral law as taught by the Church. (cf . FC 20)

16. FAMILARIS CONSORTIO • This intimate unity and the children's welfare teach the couple to be faithful and preserve their marriage and prevent future breakups. • The fruitfulness of the love of the couple is not only in giving birth. It also includes the moral and spiritual aspects that the parents shared with their children, the Church, and the whole world. • Parents should protect their children from irresponsible use of “social communication” so that they will not become victims of the wrong concept and notion of morality that damages Christian life. (cf. FC 76)

17. Leading by Example Teaching the Bible and encouraging prayer Building a community of faith Teaching forgiveness and grace Providing a safe and nurturing environment

18. CONCLUSION “Through the grace of the sacrament of Marriage, parents receive the responsibility and privilege of evangelizing their children. Parents should initiate their children early into the mysteries of the faith of which they are the ‘first heralds’ for their children. They should associate them from their tenderest years with the life of the Church. Wholesome family life can foster interior disposition that is a genuine preparation for a living faith and remain a support for it throughout one’s life.” (CCC 2225)

19. CHALLENGE Are you ready to accept being a Christian parent?